Volunteer from Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen assists migrants at the border

Erio Rosario-Perales is not your typical student.  A graduate student at Rutgers, Erio is a full time employee at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen with a passion for social justice.  Erio originally studied Human Resources Management with a minor in Labor Studies.  During his junior year, Erio took a course for his labor studies minor that would change his life.

A community organization representative visited the class and told her story of enduring an unfathomable journey of immigration that included the experience of sexual abuse. 

As Erio listened to her tell her story in Spanish, he immediately felt a connection.   Erio, himself being Puerto Rican, compared it to his own family’s move to the States, not having to deal with immigration proceedings, “When my family came here, we got on a plane and moved here, and that was that.” 

Erio was so moved he interned at the organization that very summer.  The following year, Erio declared a second major in Labor Studies. When the opportunity came up though Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen to volunteer at the Diocese of Laredo to assist with the influx of migrants at their shelter, Erio knew he had to go.  

Erio took the trip to volunteer for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Laredo in June, 2019.  They had a small building and a small team.  Every week new volunteers came into the shelter. Erio was there for two weeks, and the addition of one more person to a small staff made a big difference. 

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Laredo was tracking who was coming in, what shelter they were going to, what their final destination was, and their travel information.  The operation included transportation coordination, provisions of food, water, clothing, and sanitation items so migrants could shower.  When migrants were released from detention centers, having been there for a couple of days to about a week, Erio’s job was to do intake.  Erio said, “I made it my mission to make sure I had a smile on my face and to treat them with dignity, because I was probably the first person who treated them as a human being in a very long time.”

Erio described conditions of the migrants seen at the Laredo Shelter;  of people who didn’t know where they were going, hadn’t showered, who were wearing the same clothes day after day, who had no shoe laces, and of babies with old diapers.  Some people were dropped off at a bus stop or at the airport without food in hot conditions that at times reached 112 degrees.  These are people who don’t speak English and don’t know anyone, and who may or may not have any money. 

If they were assigned to the Laredo shelter, they would go into another room where another team member would assist them with getting in touch with their families and help to arrange their travel. If there was not room at the Laredo shelter, they were dispersed to other shelters that were working in partnership with the Diocese of Laredo.  They had to work quickly each day, as tomorrow would bring an additional 200 people. 
Erio saw babies, kids of all ages, pregnant women, single dads with kids, single moms with kids, but very rarely he would see an entire family.  So he was especially moved to see a family who thought they would never see each other again be reunited right in front of him. 

Erio knows he will have these experiences with him forever and it solidified his desire to work in the field of Immigration.  Currently, Erio is pursuing his Masters in Labor Employment Relations and is taking steps toward earning his accreditation in Immigration Services. Ultimately, Erio plans to attend law school to officially pursue becoming an immigration attorney. 

Rosario-Perales’ service in Texas did not go unnoticed. In a July 23 letter to Julio Coto, acting executive director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, with a copy sent to Bishop James F. Checchio, Bishop James A. Tamayo, shepherd of the Diocese of Laredo, said, “Thank you for sending Erio Rosario-Perales to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Laredo to assist with the influx of migrants at our shelter."

“I can’t begin to tell you how valuable Erio has been and we are so appreciative of your generosity, dedication, and support as we navigate these difficult circumstances. The flexibility and expertise of Erio had an immeasurable positive impact on our operation and the migrant men, women, and children we have the great opportunity to serve. Your solidarity is much appreciated and we cannot thank you enough.”